The Paradoxical Effects of Serum Amyloid-P Component on Disseminated Candidiasis

Serum amyloid P component (SAP) may play an important role in human fungal diseases. SAP binds to functional amyloid on the fungal surface and masks fungi from host immune processes, skewing the macrophage population from the pro-inflammatory M1 to the quiescent M2 type. We assessed the role of SAP in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis. Mice were injected with human SAP subcutaneously (SQ) followed by intravenous injection of Candida albicans. Male, BALBcJ mice were administered 2 mg human SAP or the homologous human pro-inflammatory pentraxin CRP, SQ on day −1 followed by 1 mg on days 0 thru 4; yeast cells were administered intravenously on day 0. Mice not receiving a pentraxin were morbid on day 1, surviving 4−7 days. Mice administered SAP survived longer than mice receiving yeast cells alone (p < 0.022), although all mice died. Mice given CRP died faster than mice receiving yeast cells alone (p < 0.017). Miridesap is a molecule that avidly binds SAP, following which the complex is broken down by the liver. Miridesap administered in the drinking water removed SAP from the serum and yeast cells and significantly prolonged the life of mice (p < 0.020). Some were “cured” of candidiasis. SAP administered early in the septic process provided short-lived benefit to mice, probably by blunting cytokine secretion associated with disseminated candidiasis. The most important finding was that removal of SAP with miridesap led to prolonged survival by removing SAP and preventing its dampening effects on the host immune response.